Bengaluru municipal bodies launch Ward One drive to fix neighbourhood infrastructure

The five municipal corporations of Bengaluru formally commenced the month-long 'Ward One' campaign on Sunday to address micro-level civic complaints and repair neighbourhood infrastructure following recent monsoon damage. Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda symbolically launched the initiative on Saturday at the Central Silk Board Junction within the South City Corporation jurisdiction.

The coordinated drive matters because it brings together multiple municipal bodies and state utilities to clear long-standing bottlenecks in sanitation, road maintenance and traffic flow. By targeting specific zones simultaneously, the administration aims to bridge inter-departmental gaps that traditionally delay grassroots repairs across the metropolis.

Under the framework of the campaign, authorities have shortlisted 43 wards across the South, West, East, North and Central corporations based on detailed pre-surveyed checklists. Bengaluru South has taken up 12 wards, West has included 10, East covers eight, North has designated seven, and Central has initiated work in six wards.

Municipal workers and engineers began deploying pre-prepared action plans on Sunday. Central City Corporation teams initiated clean-up drives near Mahatma Gandhi Road, while West Corporation units deployed personnel to Malleswaram and Sadashivanagar. Field operations focus heavily on filling potholes, relaying damaged footpath slabs, dredging stormwater drains, pruning hazardous tree branches, and restoring non-functional streetlights.

A substantial portion of the scheduled work targets major vehicular junctions to ease commuting delays. At the Silk Board Junction launch, the minister instructed engineers to install steel grids over stormwater drains to facilitate free left turns and construct adjoining pedestrian walkways. Officials are also tasked with transforming the space beneath the flyover into a functional public amenity with seating and recreational zones.

The campaign requires active collaboration between the municipal corporations, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company, and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board. Designated nodal officers from each participating entity are responsible for resolving inter-departmental hurdles, such as relocating utility poles, fixing broken manhole covers, and plugging underground water pipeline leaks.

Authorities have urged residents to cooperate with field teams and participate in local monitoring efforts throughout November. Officials plan to track daily progress through common reporting mechanisms with the objective of resolving the bulk of identified neighbourhood grievances before the conclusion of the month.